Thus it happened
that the question of making a crop was uppermost in his mind. Until
this object was secured he feared to array the girl openly against
him, since her influence might be essential in controlling the
negroes. If policy could keep them at work, well and good; if the
harshest measures seemed best to him he was ready to employ them.
Not only was he puzzled, but Zany also and Aun' Jinkey were sore
perplexed at Miss Lou's silence. She had stood motionless and
unheeding through the colloquy with the overseer, and now remained
equally deaf and unresponsive to the homely expressions of sympathy
and encouragement of the two women. They could not see her face, but
quickly felt the dread which anything abnormal inspires in the
simple-minded. Prone to wild abandon in the expression of their own
strong emotions, the silent, motionless figure of the young girl
caused a deeper apprehension than the most extravagant evidences of
grief.
"Aun' Jinkey," whispered Zany, "you mus' des he'p me git her to her
room.
Pages:
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511